2020 Sancerre Generation XIX Blanc

The 2020 Sancerre Generation XIX is seductive with its round, full body caressing the palate. It offers pure fruit that's redolent of pineapple as well as florals. At 14.5% alcohol and with 10 months on lees, there's plenty of weight. While the alcohol is a bit higher than I'd like, this is still an impressive and ambitious style. Tasted from tank.

From a part of the lieu-dit of La Moussière where the oldest vines date back to 1912 and grow on Kimmeridgian marls, this super-ripe wine has a mouthwateringly tropical nose that precedes a deliciously silky palate with gorgeously ripe, mineral fruit. There is a lot of alcohol here, but the wine tastes balanced and rich, rather than overblown. Honeyed and mineral, mouthfilling and satisfying, this is bold, classy and irresistible.

The 2020 Generation Dix-Neuf has balance, harmony and purity. It sits comfortably in the mouth, providing amplitude thanks to the warm vintage. It's a little warm on the finish and hasn't quite got the bright refreshment, but that's because it's just over 15% abv. Many people won't notice it, especially if served chilled. When warm, it looks a little heavier, and that's why my score isn't as high as it could be.